Method and apparatus for treating fruit



y 21, 1940- M. EWALD 2,201,967

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed. Sept. 27, 1932 v INVENTOR. W438 iwalaf ATTORNEY.

May 21, 1940. EwALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 1940. M. EWALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIII I l 07725422 (id/add ATTORNEY.

May 21, 1940. EWALD us'rnon AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VENTOR. UWZd/J/ 6404M AORNEY.

May 21, 1940. v IM.EWALD 2,201,967

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27,- 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Q/Zaa/e wald //6 ATTORNEY.

May 21, 1940. M. EWALD 2,201,967

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet e .1 5/4 350 F 525 :g 529 525 H 521.1 525 m 5/5 3/5 r .57/ 7 5/5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

y 21, 0- M. EWALD 2,201,967

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 1 v T I INVENTOR. 9 4

Wan/8 @wad ATTORNEY.

May 21, 1940. w D

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING mun Ori inal Fild Sept. 27, 1932 1o Shets-Sheet a INVENTOR. Wan/e (fizz/add ATTORNEY.

May 21, 1940.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

ATORNEY M. EWA LD azawev May 21, 1940. Ew D METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT ori inal Filed Sept. '27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O Patented May 21, 1940 22%},

UNITED STATES. oFFi-ce LIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING a FRUIT Mark Ewald, Olympia, Wash. assi nor to Special A Equipment Company, Portland? reg., a cor- R E E g E poration of Oregon Original application September 27,1932, Serial 1 No. 635,061. Divided and this application 2 January 31, 1935, Serial No. 4,239

48 Claims. (Cl. 146-38) The present invention relates to a method and has been severed wherein the half fruit is bodily apparatus for treating half fruit and is conlifted from its holding means and is thereafter cerned not only with the method and apparatus forcibly separated from the lifting means to prefor peeling a half fruit while held, but also is vent adhesion between the wet, sticky fruit and concerned with the method and apparatus for the lifting means; and to provide a method and severing the seed-carrying portion of the half apparatus for removing the seed-carrying porfruit and with discharging the half fruit free tion of a half fruit wherein the cutting action of the seed-carrying portion from the holding for removing the seed-carrying portion is accommeans. The invention also includes the displished while the half fruit remains in the fruit charging of the seed-carrying portion into the holder, preferably a substantially cup-shaped reholding means, in one aspect of the invention, ceptacle, and wherein the half fruit, after having and discharging the severed seed-carrying porthe seed-carrying portion removed, is discharged tion into the peeling retained in the holding from the cup independently of its seed-carrying news the half fruit being discharged from the portion.

holding means. These objects and such other objects as may This application is a division of the applicahereinafter appear are obtained by the novel tion in the name of Mark Ewald, Serial Number construction, improved arrangement, and unique 635,061, dated September 2'7, 1932, and entitled combination of the several elements which con- .xriut treating apparatus. stitute the invention, one form of which is shown The objects of my invention are to provide in the accompanying several sheets of drawing a method and apparatus for cutting the seedhereby made a part of this specification. carrying portion from the half fruit while the In the accompanying drawings; half fruit is held in suitable holding means, and Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device provided thereafter to remove the half fruit from the with peeling means and means for severing the r holding means in such a manner that the severed seed-carrying section of the half fruit, in which seed-carrying portion is left in the holding means the present invention is used taken from the for subsequent scavenging; to provide a fruitfront, with certain parts not shown to clarify treating method and apparatus for removing the assembly of other parts; S a y g portion of a half fruit while the Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown fruit is held in a holding means and for disin Figure 1 as taken from the right side; charging the half fruit from the holding means Figure 3 i an elevation of the same machine by turning the half fruit about an axis lying as i e from th ar; parallel to the cut face of the halffruit so as Figure 4 is an elevation of the machine as to Sub ta any nv a d d s e e half taken from the left side with certain background fruit from the holding means and likewise simulparts not shown; taneously to discharge the severed seed-carrying Figure 5 is a, fragmentary sectional view of the po on into the holding means; t0 provide 51 upper portion of the machine shown in Figures method and apparatus for severing the Se 1, 2, 3 and 4 as taken through a vertical central carrying portion of a half fruit and for dischargsection; ing the half fruit from its holding means by Figure 6 is a plan View f the machine taken turning the half fruit about an axis extending in cross section at the plane designated by the parallel to the cut face of the half fruit to a subline .45 i Figure 5' v v stantially inverted position and simultaneously Figure 7 is a fragmntary View taken in el eve" operating a cutting mechanism about substanf the fruit S nttin mechanism tially the same axis whereby to sever the seedp Carrying portion of the half fruit and to dis Figure 8 1s a perspective view of the splitting charge the severed seed-carrying portion within bleoles as tafken from afbove; the receiving means; to provide further means Flgujfe 9 15 an end f Showmg m detail for bodily moving the half fruit wholly fr its mountmg and operation of complemental fruit inverted position over the receiving means and -S members; in such a manner that the wet or sticky half fruit Figure 10 s a fragmentary VIEW f the machlne cannot adhere to the removing means; to provide illustrating in Side elevation the peeling mechanan automatic machine for treating half fruit ism; l v from which the central seed-carrying portion Figure 11 is avertical cross-section of the 'peel 55 ing mechanism taken at the line I I-II of Figure 10, with certain parts omitted;

Figure 12 is a view in perspective of the peel removing mechanism as taken from above;

Figure 13 is an elevation of the peel removing mechanism with parts broken away and taken from the side as indicated by lines I3-l3 in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view of the peel removing mechanism taken at the line I4--I4 of figure 12;

Figure 15 is a perspective side view of an instrumentality for severing the seed-carrying portion of the half fruit and showing parts in cross section;

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the instrumentality for removing the seed-carrying portion taken at the plane indicated by line IGI5 of Figure 15;

Figure 1'7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line I1-I'I of Figure 15 showing constructional details;

Figure 18 is a lateral and horizontal section taken through the machine as indicated by the line I8I8 of Figure 4;

Figure 19 is a transverse section taken through the machine as indicated by the line I9I9 of Figure 4, showing particularly the Geneva cam used therein;

Figure 20 is a plan view of the front face of a paddle;

Figure 21 is a side View of such paddle illustrating the ejecting device herein described; and

Figure 22 is an elevation of the inner wall of one of the elements of a fruit cup. v

Like reference characters are used throughout the following description and in the drawings to indicate similar parts.

The invention herein claimed is illustrated and described in connection with a type of automatic machine for receiving whole fruit, which as it passes through the machine is first out into halves, then peeled, then cut so as to have the seed-containing portion severed therefrom, then automatically ejected from the machine, leaving the peeling and seed-containing section, and then the peeling and seed-containing section are scavenged from the machine. It is understood, however, that the invention and claims of this application are not limited to a machine wherein the various functions are carried out in the illustrated sequence, or are not limited to a machine having all of the sequence of operations carried out therein; on the contrary, the invention and claims of the present application are of broad scope and cover the utilization of the process and apparatus as applied to any type of machine for one or more claimed operations on fruit and particularly half fruit.

For purposes of illustration but not by way of limitation, I have illustrated the invention of the present application as carried out by an apparatus like that disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 635,061, filed September 27, 1932, of which the present application is a division.

The frame I2 is a vertical bracket I'l held in position by studs I6. Bracket I I has a broadened end I8 adjacent cross bar I5 and at its upper end has a flared section I9 presenting a flat face inward of the frame. The upper end of bracket I"! is secured by a strap 20 affixed to upright III.

The butt 54 of a horizontal bearing member 55 is fitted against the face of section If] and secured thereto by means of cap screws 55. The member 55 has, in alignment, a tapped boring 5'! and two bearings 58 and 59, all of which have vertical axes. The bearing 59 is centrally located relative to the frame. A lug 60 forms the forward end of the cross member 55 which has a rib 5i coextensive its longitudinal extent. The four standards I0, I I, I2 and I3 are held together at their tops by a casting 22, studs 2! extending through the uprights into the casting. Rods 23 extend inwardly and upwardly from each corner of the casting 22 to a central crown hearing 24.

The driving mechanism The machine may be coupled in any manner to a suitable prime mover. In the illustrated device a belt pulley 25 is rotatively mounted upon a main drive shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in bearing blocks 2'! and 28 secured to the upright members II and I2, respectively.

An internal cone clutch 29 projects from the hub of pulley 25. A second element 30 is keyed to the shaft 26 in a manner permitting of longitudinal movement therealong. Element 30 contains a coniform recess 3i having an inclined Wall 32. The member 30 has at its side an annular boss 33. A hand wheel 34 may be keyed to the end of shaft 26 and may serve as a stop to prevent the member 30 from sliding oil the end of said shaft 26.

Lever 35 is used for shifting the position of the clutch member 30. Said lever 35 has a bifurcated end 36 with slots 31 which clear the boss 33 so that the boss may rotate therein. Between the end 36 and handle 38 on the lever 35 said lever has a vertical bearing 39.

A side bar 40 is suspended between uprights l0 and II and has a centrally drilled and tapped l there is a small pinion 43 keyed to the shaft 2'6.

Cross member l5 between standards i0 and I I has a boss 44. A hearing standard 4? having a foot 46 is secured to boss 44 by a stud 45. Standard 4'! also has a horizontal leg 48 having therein a bearing 49, and has its end suitably fastened to upright II.

Opposite standard 4? is a similar standard 50 similarly secured to upright I2 and to the cross brace I5 between vertical members I2 and I3. Standard 50 has a bearing 5i complemental to and in alignment with bearing 49. A cam shaft 52 is rotatively mounted within the bearings 45' and 5| and extends beyond the standard 41. The extension beyond standard 41 has a gear wheel 53 keyed thereto, said gear wheel meshing with the pinion 43.

The loading mechanism A substantially triangular base frame 10 for a loading mechanism is disposed between the vertical frame standards I0 and I 3. A horizontal cross bar II of frame 10 is secured to said standards by studs 12. Cross bar ll has at its midsection a fiat face 13 (see Figure 19) coinciding with the end plate for supporting the front end of the horizontal bearing member 55. Cap screws I I extend between said parts. Frame 10 has vertical bearings I5 and I6 at the two ends of cross bar 'iI, thesebearings being within the corners of the frame formed by the standards I and I3, respectively.

Cross bar II has integral therewith truss members 75a which unite in a circular lug 160. having therein a vertical bearing 11. Extending directly from the lug 16a and upwardly within the plane described by the trusses 'I5a is an arm I8. Arm It has in its end a vertical bearing 19. A reinforcing member 80 connects the lug 16a and the mid section of cross bar -'II.

A trapezoidal structure 84 projects forwardly of the machine from adjacent the top of uprights Ill and I3. Structure 84 includes members 83 joined by a cross bar 82 having a boss 8| above bearing 19. The boss 8| has a central aperture 85. Aperture 85 and the bearing I9 support a Vertical shaft 85 in a nonrotative manner.

Upon the top face of bearing member I9 is a sleeve 81 which is free to rotate about the shaft 85. Secured to the sleeve 81 is the hub 88 of a Geneva cam 89. The cam 89 (Figure 19) comprises a flat plate having spaced alternately about its circumference six radial grooves 90 and six arcuate cut-away sections 9I.

A spindle 92 has its lower end journaled in bearing 'I'I. The upper end of said spindle is rotatively mounted in a bearing 93 in a hood, 94 which covers the lower part of the machine. A small sprocket 95 is keyed to spindle 92 beneath hood 9%. Feathered to said spindle" 92 at its lower end is a cam member 95 which actuates the Geneva gear 69. Member 96 comprises an eccentric plate 97 maintained in a horizontal plane just below that described of the Geneva gear 89 by a hub 98 which rides on the upper face of bearing block Ida.

A roller bearing 8b is on a pin I09 disposed adjacent the point of plate 9?. Opposed to the roller 59 and upon the upper face of the eccentric plate FB'I is a superposed plate I III having an arcuate body H32 of equal radius to that describing the arcuate sections @I of the Geneva gear 89. The arcuate edge of body IE2 is interrupted by an arcuate cut out I03 having ends forming shoulders I94 and I05.

A beveled pinion IBIS is mounted upon cam shaft 52 by set screw IM. A bevel gear I09 meshing with pinion i8 3 is similarly mounted on the lower end of a shaft Hi8 vertically mounted in the bearing 53. An offset hub IIII extends upwardly from the gear I69 and bears an annular toothed shoulder III. The extreme upper end of the shaft IGS carries a sprocket I I2 which is in the same plane with sprocket 95. The two sprockets, 95 and H2, are operatively connected by a suitable chain M3.

The hood M has therein a hole IE4 that circumscribes the sleeve 8?. Secured to the sleeve E'Ijust above the hood 94 is a collar H5. The collar H5 is a base or rest for a rotating cam II it having flanges II? and H8 defining an irregular race or track. An upwardly inclined camming surface I I9 succeeded by a downwardly inclined camming surface IZIi (not clearly shown) are included in the cam Ht. A point I2I dividing the camming surfaces H8 and Ill] is shown at the rear side of the cam in Figure 2.

Depending from the flange HE is a horizontal arm I22 havingan upturned lug I23. The arm 522 is secured upon the flange II8 by means of a bolt IZ i so that a movement of the end I23 of said arm will result in rotary motion being transmitted to the cam IE6 rather than a pivotal movement of the arm I22 about bolt I24.

. The arm I22 is actuated by a cam I25 keyed to the cam shaft 52. In one face of cam I25 is an eccentric groove I25 which circumscribes the shaft 52 (see Figure 4). A cam follower I2? having a roller bearing I28 projecting into groove, race or track I26 is mounted adjacent cam I25.

Cam follower I2? has a horizontal slot I29 which coacts with the shaft 52 to prevent vertical displacement of the cam follower. Such slot allowing a'reciprocal movement to be imparted to follower I27 by the action of the side walls of the groove I26 upon the roller bearing I28. The cam follower I2! has adjacent thereto a second camv I343 which estops lateral movement of the follower iEi'I so that the roller bearing I23 cannot escape from the race in the cam I25.

The upper edge of the follower I 21 comprises a narrow rib IBI. Depending from the side wall of bearing 59 and attached by standard fastening means I32 is a guide bracket I33. The under side of the bracket 533 has therein a groove I34 that receives the rib iEI in a slidable manner.

One end of a link I35 is pivotally connected to a lug I36 at the forward end of the cam follower I2! by-means of a bolt or pin Isl anchored in said lug. The opposite end of link I35 comprises a pin MI that rides in a slot I38 at the end of an arm I39 that is keyed to a vertical shaft MB. The shaft MI! is journalled in bearings I6 and I42, the latter being in a block- I43 secured to upright I3 by means of cap screws Md.

Vertical displacement of shaft I453 is prevented by using a sleeve I l-5 that is fastened to the shaft top by a machine screw M6. Sleeve I45 rides upon the upper face of the bearing block I43. On shaft I'm is an arm M! held thereon by a set screw I48. The free end of arm I t! contains an eye M9 having a vertical axis.

A link I51! comprising an apertured head I5I is connected to arm M? by pintle I52 extending through eye M9. A rod I53 having right and left hand threads at opposite ends is threaded at one end into lug I23 and at the other is threaded into link I56. A poly-sided section 855 is provided at the middle of rod I53 for its manipulation with a wrench.

A feed turret 455 having a hub 556 is mounted above the cam III; upon the sleeve 81 and rotates with said sleeve. Radiating from the hub I56 are legs I5? at sixty-degree intervals. Each leg Isl terminates in an enlarged section I55. The several blocks are joined by integral strap members I59. A channel I68 of rectangular cross section extends vertically through the blocks I58.

A stem IISI reciprocates in each of the channels Hit, the cross section of'stem IBI corresponding with that of said channels. 'Members IEI have mounted at their lower ends inwardly directed brackets I62 having conical roller bearings I53 at their innermost ends. The bearings I63 are disposed within the groove or race of cam III; and their coniform faces conform with the convergingopposed faces of the upper and lower flanges II? and IIS.

A fruit cup I64 is secured to the upper end of each stern I6! by bolts I65. The several cups I54 are identical and generally comprise a casting. Each cup has a central seat I66 and at its sides members It? and at its ends a member Each member I68 has at its top a seat for a ball bearing I69. Each cup I64 has a base I10 having a seat I1I centrally positioned relative to the cup, and a lug I12 extending downwardly from the side of said seat. The seat "I is at the top of stem I6I and the lug I12 fits upon the side of said stem to be held thereagainst by a bolt Brackets I14 are held upon the outer face of the bearing blocks I58 by studs I13. Each bracket carries a roller bearing I15 rotating on a vertical axis between ears I16.

The belt pulley 25 is operated continuously. The cone clutch member 30, which is feathered to the main drive shaft 26, is controlled by lever 35. When the clutch is thrown in, the main drive shaft 26 and the pinion 43 are rotated by the pulley 25. The pinion 43 actuates gear 53. The force imparted to the beveled pinion I06 is transmitted to gear I09 to turn the vertical shaft I08 and the sprocket I I2 in a clockwise direction when looked at from above.

Roller chain II3, through sprockets H2 and 95, propels the spindle 92 clockwise. As the eccentric cam member 96 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the roller bearing 99 and projection IOI engage alternately the slots 90 and arcuate sections 9I of the Geneva gear 89. The circular body IOI coincides with each face 9I and slides thereagainst without imparting any rotary motion to the gear 89. As the member 96 is rotated, shoulder I04 reaches a point in alignment with the two vertical shafts 86 and 92 where there is no obstruction to an anti-clockwise movement of the gear 89.

Simultaneously with such alined position of shoulder or point I04, the roller bearing 99 contacts the forward edge of a slot 90. Continued rotation of the shaft 92 causes the roller 99 to project inwardly of such slot 90, thus imparting a rotary movement to the gear 89 (see Figure 19).

Subsequently, as the roller 99 is withdrawn from the slot 90, the shoulder I05 enters the next succeeding arcuate section 90. This arrests further rotation of the cam 89. Since there are six slots and arcuate faces in the Geneva gear 89, six advances and six stops will occur during each complete revolution thereof. The movement of the gear 89 causes a concurrent movement of turret I55.

The feed turret I55 and sleeve 81 rotate independently of the cam II6, the latter being actuated by the cam I25. The first movement of the cam H6 is in a clockwise manner and elevates the feed cup I64 whose stem I6I carries the roller I63 at the foot of incline II9.

Upward movement of the feed cup I64 is accompanied by the trimming of the stem from a pear therein. The return, or anti-clockwise movement, of the cam H6 is had simultaneously with a shift of the feed turret, so that the roller I63 is kept upon the point I2I and hence the stem I6I in an elevated position.

The stemming device Vertical shaft 86, above the feed turret I 55, has thereon a collar I80. A sleeve-like hub I 8| depending from a lever I82 rides upon collar I in a manner free to pivot about the shaft 86. The arms I83 and I84 of lever I82 are at one hundred eighty degrees (see Figure 6).

The end of the arm I84 comprises a rectangular channeled block I85 angular to arm I84. A channel I86 is formed in the under face of block I85. A centrally disposed slot I81 extends through the top face of the block to the channel The channel I86, at either side and on the lower face of the block I85, is bordered by guide plates I88, held in position by any suitable means. Plates I88 project over the channel I86 to partially enclose it and to make a track of said channel. The guide plates I88 support for reciprocation within the channel I86 a cross head block I89. Block I89 has in its upper face a pin I90 that mounts a roller bearing I 9 I, the pin I90 and bearing I9I projecting upwardly through the slot I81.

A plate I82 is fastened to the end of block I85 by a stud I93 and projects over the end of the channel I86. A spring I94 is inserted between the plate I92 and cross head I89 to constantly urge the cross head away from plate I92. Inward movement of cross head I89 is arrested by the roller I 9I engaging a lever I95. The lever I95, which moves in an are parallel to the upper face of the block I85, is limited in its movement under the influence of roller bearing I9I by an adjustable eccentric disc I96 which is anchored in block I85 by pin I91, By shifting the position of the disc I96 relative to pin I 91, the inward movement of the block I89 may be regulated.

The lower face of the cross head I89 has thereon a boss I91a having a foot I98. Fastened by any suitable means to the bottom of foot I98 is a bracket I99. The bracket I99 supports at its lower end a second piece of sheet material comprising a stop 200. The stop 200 projects horizontally with the main body of said stop tangential to a circle generated about the turret shaft 86. The heel of foot I98 supports the shank of a fiat arcuate blade 20I having a cutting edge 202.

An ear 203 having a vertical bearing 204 therein projects laterally from the side of the block I85. The bearing 204 supports a shaft 205 operatively connected to the lever arm I by the contraction of a split hub 206 at the end of arm I95. Between the ends of shaft 205 is a deformation in horizontal alignment with the feed cups I64, so that no interference will be had by shaft 205 with fruit in said cups as such fruit is conducted therepast. A second lever 201 is fastened to the lower end of the shaft 205 at an elevation in the same horizontal plane with the roller bearings I15. The extended end of the lever 201 projects into the arcuate path traversed by rollers I15 as said rollers are moved by the turret I55. The arm I83 of the lever I82 is operatively connected to the shaft I40 by a link 208 and an arm 209.

A stem 2I0 of polygonal cross-section is slidably mounted in a boss 2II integral with the frame 84. The lower end of stem 2I0 comprises a head 2I2. A plate 2I3 is secured to the bottom of the head 2I2, and a downwardly and inwardly curved finger 2I4 extends from the opposite side of said head. The finger 2M is disposed in the circular path traversed by the ball bearings I69. When the machine is used to treat fruit carrying stems, such as pears, the stemming device illustrated and described herein is used.

The stemming device operates in conjunction with the movement imparted to the feed cups by the cam II6. Pears are placed in the feed cups, with stems outermost, at any of the cup stations, A, B, C, or D. The first movement of the turret will advance the cup at station D to station E. Incident to the shift of the feedturret, the roller bearing I15 depending from the wall of the block I58 bearing the feed cup shifted from station D to station E comes in contact with the side of lever 201 to rotate the shaft 205 clockwise when viewed from above and to thereby force the cross head I89, through the agency of lever Hi and roller l9l, toward plate I92 against the urge of spring I94.

Displacement of the cross head I89 concurrently moves the abutment plate 280 and the curved blade 2!]! therewith so that fruit carried in the .feed cup moving from station D to station will not abut the plate 200. Just before the cup advancing to station E attains such station,

the roller bearing I passes the end of the arm 28?. This allows the plate 200 to be moved in the opposite direction under the urge of the spring I94 until the plate engages the end of a pear in the cup at station E. The plate forces such pear against the back member N8 of the cup 53 1'. In this manner, the blade 22!, which is adjustable in relation to the abutment plate 236, is measurably positioned from the end of a pear in the cup at station E.

As the feed cup moving from station D to station E is advancing, the ball bearing I69 thereon supporting the head 212 because engaging the curved finger 21 As such cup advanced;

the head 212 dropped coincident to the finger 214 presenting its upwardly inclined under surface to the ball Hi9. Downward movement of the head 252 under its own weight causes the plate iii to rest upon fruit within the cup at station E.

As i'ruit reaches the station E, it is thus firmly held within the cup by the pressure of plate H3, and by the pressure of abutment plate 209.

A counter-clockwise movement is then given to the shaft i wto move the lever H32 in a clockwise direction. This moves the circular cam H6 in a clockwise direction. The movement of the cam Ht, as before stated, elevates the feed cup at station E.

I Incident to the raising of the cup, the end of the pear therein is brought against the lower sharpened edge 292 of the arcuate blade 20!, which is drawn, by the rotating of lever 182, to sever the stem end from the pear. During the upward movement of the fruit, the stem 21D bearing the head 252 is pushed upwardly within the boss 2! I.

As soon as the stem severing operation is completed, the turret I55 is given a turn by the Geneva gear 89 simultaneously with movement being imparted to the circular cam H6. The feed cup thus is advanced to station F in an elevated position. Before the fruit is conveyed entirely from under the plate 2E3, the ball bearing 5% on the finger I68 of the next succeeding cup is carried beneath the end of the downwardly curved finger 212 which prevents the plate 2| 3 from being lowered into the path of the fruit subsequently to be disposed at position E.

The fruit conveying carriage Fruit conveying means is provided shaped to conform to the general shape, size and character of the fruit to be processed in the apparatus.

A fruit conveying carriage is partially supported by the structure 84 having a cross member 22 connecting the ends of converging bars 83. The other ends of the members 83 are secured to the uprights l0 and [3 near their top by means of bolts 215. A further support for the carriage comprises a sleeve 2l6 surrounding a central vertical shaft 2 1.

Shaft 211 is free to rotate withinvsleeve ZIE. Integral with the top of the sleeve 213 is a boss 218 containing apertures 2H and 225] that are in alignment with like apertures 22! and 222 in frame member 82. Tracks 223 and 222 are supportedv within apertures M9, 220, 22! and 222.

A, carriage reciprocates upon the tracks 223 and 224 and comprises identical sleeves 225 and 226, (see Figure 9). The sleeves 225 and 226 are connected at, their ends by cross pieces 221 and forming the front and back of the carriage. Rotatively disposed on the sleeve 226 are similar collars 229 and 233 that provide circular shoulders 233i and The arcuate edges of the shoulders 23:! and 232-have gear teeth 233 and 23 5 cut therein.

Projecting downwardly from the collar 229 is a bracket 235. A stem 231 of a fruit clamp 238 is secured to bracket 235 by studs 23%. The lower portion of the clamp 238 comprises a scoop 239 having a concavity m, and a heel 2M.

Opposite to bracket 235, collar 229 has an offset bracket ;242 secured by bolts 2 53. et 2 32 contains an aperture 244. The end of a hinged rod 2% is loosely, supported in aperture 26 The opposite end of the rod 245 which is pintled at 2 25 supports a shoe 241 having a longitudinal groove, which engages a slider bar 2%.

Positive contact between the shoe 221 and the slider bar 228 is had by means of a compression spring 249. The opposite side of bar 248 serves as a track for a roller bearing 252 rota- .tively mounted on a boss 25! having a bolt 252 projecting therefrom at the top of sleeve 229.

Upon the carriage rod 223 opposite to collar 229 is a component collar 253 having teeth 25d meshing with teeth 233. Secured to the collar 253, by means of cap screws 253a, is a fruit clamp 255 which is complemental and opposed to. the clamp 233. t I

The collar 23B is operatively connected to the slider bar 248 in the same manner as the collar 229. A bracket 256 projects from collar 235i, and has an aperture to receive an end of a pintled bar 251 upon which there is a compression spring 258 contacting the back of the shoe 241. The opposite end of the pintled member is inserted into the shoe 241. A clamp 259 is suspended from the collar 230 in exactly the same manner as clamp 238 is suspended from the collar 229.

The lower end of the clamp 259 comprises a curved jaw 2E9. Coacting with the clamp 259 is an opposed and identical clamp 25! with a jaw 262. A collar 263 rotatively mounted upon the sleeve 225 adjacent to the collar 253 supports clamp 26!, and is operatively engaged to the shoulder 2 32 by means of gear teeth 264.

The boss 2l8 supports a shouldered panel 255 having therein a longitudinal slot 266. The slot 268 communicates through a groove 261 to the outer face of the panel. A staff 2&8 bearing near its upper extremity a pin 269 for a beveled roller bearing 210 is arranged for vertical reciprocation within the trackage formed by groove 2E1 and an opposed groove in the boss 2 i8. Projecting from the side of the reciprocating member 268 through the slot 256 is a pin 21!, the slot 266 being sufficiently extensive to clear the limits of reciprocation of said pin.

The slider bar 248 is carried at the ends of two levers 212 and 213 by means of studs 214 and 215, both levers being non-rotatively mounted on opposite ends of the track member 224. The

lever 213, which is near the center of the machine, is compound and has in its arm 218 a slot 211 (see Figure 7). Within the slot 211 is a cross head 211a pivotally secured to the pin 211.

Secured to vertical shaft 211 above sleeve 218 is a circular cam 218 having a circumscribing camming groove 219 with an inclination 288 reaching an upper level at 281 and declining at 282. The beveled bearing 218 operates within the groove 219.

Figure 18 illustrates the lower end of the shaft 211 journaled in the bearing 51. Shaft 211 has secured thereto a gear wheel 283 below the cross member 55. A gear idler 284 operating upon a stud shaft shrunk into bearing 51 serves to transmit the clockwise movement of the annular toothed member 111 to a like movement of the gear 283 and of shaft 211.

The front cross member 221 of the carriage has a threaded recess which receives a threaded stud shaft 285. The shaft 285 is connected to the bifurcated end of a compound lever 288 by an adjustable link 281. A vertical shaft 288 is journaled in bearing 15 and in a bearing 289 within the shank of the bracket 298 bolted to the upright 18.

Vertical displacement of the shaft 288 is prevented by the attachment of a lever 288 thereto at its upper end to bear against the upper face of the bearing 289. An integral offset hub 291 spaces the lever 286 above the bracket support 298.

Keyed to the cam shaft 52 is a plate cam 292. In one face of cam 292 is an accentric groove 293 circumscribing the bearing for the shaft 52. A cam follower 295 is held adjacent to the face of the cam 292 by means of a collar 294 upon the cam shaft. Cam follower 295 has a horizontal slot for said cam shaft and supports a roller bgiaring 298 operatively contained by the groove 2 A guide bracket 291 having a transverse groove 298 in its under face is secured upon the cross member 55 by means of bolts 299. The top edge of the cam follower 295 is guided within the grgove 298 while it is reciprocated by the cam 29 At the side of the cam follower 295 is an ear 388 which receives a vertical bolt 381. A link 382 is held above the head of bolt 381 and beneath the ear 388 in changeable angular position and has at its other end a wrist pin 383 in registry with a slot 384 near the end of a lever 385 fixedly attached to the lower end of shaft 288.

Fruit is removed from a cup 184 at station F by advancing the carriage to its foremost position upon the rods 223 and 224 with the jaws 231, 259, 255, and 261 in a spread position as illustrated in Figure 9. At such time, the slider bar 248 is moved upwardly and radially with the rod 224 from the action of lever 213. The vertical shaft 211 is rotated in a clockwise direction, therefore, when the carriage is in the forward position with its clamps about a fruit in a cup 184, the circular cam 218 is rotated to the position presenting the inclination 288 to the roller bearing 218. Continued movement of the circular cam 218 forces the inclination 288 beneath the roller bearing to elevate the bearing to the position shown in Figure 7. This movement will close the jaws about the fruit.

When the fruit has been grasped within the jaws, 239, 268, 255 and 282, further movement of the circular cam 116 of the feed turret mechanism in a clockwise direction lowers the feed cup at station F. Concurrently, the cam follower 295 is moved by the plate cam 292 to impart motion to the linkage connecting with the cross member 221 of the carriage to move the carriage inwardly of the machine.

The upper plane 281 of the groove in circular cam 218 is of sufficient extent to hold the staff 288 in an elevated position long enough to maintain slider bar 248 in its downmost position While the cariage is moved inwardly of the machine. The inward movement of the carriage conveys the pear across a bit 311. The heels 241 of the fruit jaws 231 and 255 are behind the larger end of the pear and advance it inwardly against the slight resistance offered by the cutting edge 319 of the bit 311.

Fruit before being fed to the machine is generally graded to a standard size. In graded fruit, however, there are variations as to size and shape. The fruit clamps of the fruit conducting carriage, therefore, are closed in a semi-positive manner. As the fruit clamps come in contact with a pear, great pressure thereon is avoided by the springs 249 and 258.

Continued arcuate movement of the slider bar aperture 224 against the urge of the spring 249.

The rod 251 will be similarly displaced.

The splitting mechanism A support comprising a boss 311 integral with the lower side of the sleeve 218 is provided for 4 the splitting members 318. The boss 311, from left to right, has a channel 312, opening to the top and the two said sides of the boss. Bearings 313 and 314 are arranged in alignment in the front and rear walls of said boss. Shafts 315 are journaled in said bearings and extend across channel 312 and support at their free ends the members 318.

The left member 318 (Figures 7 and 8) has a bit 311 extending forwardly in alignment with the paired leaf or member 318 supported by the right member 318. The bit 311, at its forward end, has a cutting edge 319. Shoulders 328 recede therefrom at an acute angle. The outer side of the bit 311 and the complemental leaf 318 have horizontally disposed bosses 321 and 322, respectively. The bosses 321 and 322 prevent a vacuum forming between the faces of the leaves 311 and 318 bearing said ridges and the fiat sides of a halved pear.

The shafts 315, across the channel 312 have segmental pinions 323 keyed thereto for engaging racks 328 and 325. The rack 325 extends downwardly through a guide slot 328 in the boss 311 to a position below said boss. The rack 324 0perates in a slot 321 on the opposite side of the boss 311 and also extends therebelow. A cross piece 328 connects the two racks 324 and 325, a bolt 329 being used to hold the several parts in assembly. A vertical connecting rod 338 offset from the rack 325 extends upwardly through a guide therefor in the boss 218. The upper end of the rod 338 has thereon a truncated roller bearing 331 mounted on a stern normal to said rod.

Intermediate the central crown bearing 24 rotatively mounting the upper end of the drive shaft 211 and the circular cam 218 is a collar cam 332. The cam 332 has a peripheral groove 333 having a lower section 334 and an inclined section 335 extending upwardly from the lower section 334 to ahigher section 336. Succeeding the higher plane 336 is a declination 331'to the lower plane 335. The circular cam 332 rotates with the shaft M1. 7

The shaft 261 rotates in a clockwise direction, hence the fruit clamps of the fruit carriage will be spread to release the fruit after having carried such fruit past the cutting edge 319 and over the faces of the bits 311 and 318 and before the parts 325 and 322 are spread by the operation of the roller bearing 33! within the declining section 331 of the groove 333. Nothing, therefore, impedes the outward displacement of the two halves of the fruit when the hinged members 321 and 322 are spread apart to deliver such halves to fruit cups therebelow.

The main turret A main turret 346 comprising an octagonal figure is disposed at the center of the machine. The turret 346 has a central hub 34! non-rotatively engaging a, sleeve 342. The sleeve 342 has a flanged upper end 344 which is attached to said sleeve to prevent a longitudinal displacement of the turret. The sleeve 342 surrounds the shaft 251 and extends downwardly to rest upon the cross members 35 at bearing 53. The shaft 2l1 moves freely within the sleeve 342.

Spaced about the edge of theturret 346 are fruit cups 345. The cups 343 are arranged in pairs. An intermittent ninety degree at a time movement is given to the turret stopping it with the four pairs of fruit cups at the stations marked W, X, Y, and Z.

Each of the eight corners of thefeed turret 366 has therein a vertical bearing 346, rectangular in cross section. Stems 341 of the same cross section vertically reciprocate within said bearings. The inner edge of the stems 341 has therein a notch 348. A half 348 of a fruit cup, having a lug 356 extending downwardly along the side of the stem 3 11, is mounted at the top of each of said stems. A stud bolt 35! passes through the lug 353 and the stem 341 for attachment therebetween. The half cup 343 has a concavity conforming to the periphery of a half of a pear having its stem end inwardly of the machine. A cup segment 35?! having a concavity complemental to that in segment 349 is mounted opposed to each segment 336.

Shallow grooves 34% are formed in the cup segment walls. The grooves are bounded by vertical sides 3451] (see Figure 22). Pressure on the fruit as it is peeled forces sections of it into the grooves 345a resulting in less frictional impedance to the passing of a paring knife through the fruit. i

The cup segment 352 is movable and has depending from its inner and outer ends abutments 353 and 354 that fit closely upon the two sides of the stem 341 and contain aligned apertures which coincide with recesses in the adjacent sides of the stem 341. Bolts 355 and 356 are disposed in said apertures and recesses and the movable segment is free to oscillate thereabout. A second depending lug 351 projects downwardly fromv the cup segment 352 offset from the stem 341.

The lower end of lug 351 has a threaded aperture for a bolt 358 which is screwed inwardly until its threaded end abuts the stem 341. The center of gravity of the cup segment 352 is such that it tends to rotate about the bolts 355 and 356 to thus spread the cup members slightly apart. The bolt 358 being below the pivot of the movable segment 352, it may be adjusted to determine how far the segment 352 may be spreadfrom segment 343.

A lock nut 353 may be used to hold the bolt 358 in place once the desired adjustment is made. Projecting from abutment 354 is a pin 366. Dis placement of the pin 366 to the right, Figure 2, will move the cup segment 352 toward cup segment 349. i

Intermittent ninety degree movement of the turret is had through a Geneva gear 361 secured to the lower end of the sleeve 342. The cam 361 comprises a plate having alternately spaced about its periphery four slots 36 2 and four arcuate peripheral sections 363. The slots 362 and arcuate sections 363 are separated by points 364.

Keyed to the shaft I68 in a parallel plane below the Geneva gear 361 is a generally circular plate 365.

A section 366 of plate 365 is eccentric and has a periphery 361 generated about the axis of shaft I66. There is a generally circular cam plate 368 upon plate 365 within the plane common to the Geneva gear 361. The plate 368 has a section removed leaving a concave curved edge 363. Shoulders 31I and 312 mark the intersection of the concave edge 369 and the circular edge 316 of the cam 368. A slot 313'is formed in the lug 366. It extends inwardly beyond an imaginary line indicating continuity of the circular edge 316. A stud314 having thereon a roller bearing 315 rides in slot 313.

The roller 315 and the cam plate 366 operate with respect to the slots 362 and arcuate faces 333 of the cam 36! in the same manner as the similar parts previously described function in the operation of the Geneva gear movement of the feed turret. In the main turret, there are but. four slots about the cam 3'6I, hence, the cam is turned ninety degrees during each actuation.

Such intermittent motion of the fruit turret allowsthe fruit cups to remain in each of the stations W, X, Y, or Z a predetermined period of time in seriatim.

A circular plate 365a having a flange 3651i and a groove 3650 is mounted'about shaft 108 above i the cam 368. The plate 365wis held stationary by a strap brace extending between the frame members H and I2. The groove 3650 has a contour for guiding the stub shaft 314 and the roller 315 into and out of the grooves 362 by sliding the stub shaft 314 in the slot 313. A roller (not shown) upon the shaft 314 above the roller 315 rides within the groove 3650.

In the upper face (Figure 3) of cam 292 is an eccentric groove 316 circumscribing the aperture 5' in said cam for the reception of camshaft 52. A cam follower 311 having a vertical slot 318 therein for freedom of movement about cam shaft 52 is disposed against cam 282. Cam follower 311 carries a stem 318 having. thereon the roller 3130, projecting into the groove 316.

The cam follower 311 extends upwardly and has an arm 386. The arm 383 supports two Ver tically disposed posts 36l spaced apart an interval equal to the space between the pairs of stems 341 supporting'the fruit cups. Posts 331 are held in place in an adjustable manner by nuts 362 and project upwardly through apertures 383 in the hood 384, which is a continuation of hood 94.

The tops of the posts 381 are held together by a cross piece 385 which projects outwardly as illustrated in Figure 3. Theposts 38d are adjusted .sothat the cross bar 335 is in the same horizontal plane as the slots348 in the stemst l'i when said stems 341 are in their lowermost position.

The posts 38! are at station W. As the turret advances a pair of fruit cups to this station, the cam 292 elevates the cam follower 311 to raise the horizontal arm 388 and the posts 38! thereon, thus elevating the fruit cups as the cross piece 385 is in registry with the slots 348 in stems 341.

The fruit cup closing mechanism The uprights l9 and H, at an elevation with that of the fruit turret, have thereon brackets 388. A bar 389 is loosely held between the brackets 388 and is horizontally reciprocable within said supports. A hook 399 is secured to upright i9 and on the bar 399 adjacent thereto is a pin 39!. Between the pin 39! and the hook 399 is a contraction spring 392 which holds the bar 389 in a position limited by the bifurcated end of a lever 393 which bears against the bolt or pin 394 in said bar.

On bar 389 at each side of the bolt 394 are similar levers 395. The levers 395 are held in a given angular position by the adjustment of a screw 389a and a lock nut 396 and ride upon bolts 391. The upright arms 398 of the levers 395 are spaced apart a distance equal to the space between the paired fruit cups in the feed turret and are in the same vertical plane as the pins 369 projecting to the left of the movable element of the fruit cups.

Depending from the right central edge of the hood 384 which is supported by the four corner uprights !9, H, !2 and I3 is a lug 399 having at its lower extremity a horizontal bearing 699 (see Figure 19) The bearing 699 supports a fulcrate member 69! having pinned to its opposite ends the upper and lower arms 692 and 693, respectively, of the lever 393. The lower end of arm 693 is forked and between the opposed parts of the fork mounts upon an axle 695 a roller bearing 694. The circular plate cam 292 has upon its periphery a shoe 696. The roller bearing 694 engages the periphery of the cam. 292 and is maintained in one position until the shoe 696 displaces it to oscillate the lever 393 about its pivot 69!. When the curved shoe 696 has passed beneath the roller 694, the bar 389 is restored to its normal position by the spring 392.

Displacement of the bar 389 in the manner described forces the upright arms 398 against the pins 369. Movement of the pins 369 closes the cups 345. The closing of the cups occurs during the peeling movement of a paring blade 435.

Adjustment of the machine for different thicknesses of peeling may be had by changing the position of the screws 369a. Screws 369a may be turned so that arm 398 will engage pins 369 to but partly close the cups. This will result in paring of a thicker peel as the path of blade 435 is about a fixed axis concentric with the cup when the latter is tightly closed.

The peeling mechanism At station W a support for a peeling mechanism is provided by brackets 299 and 499 which are secured to the uprights I9 and 'l!, respectively, and by an apertured lug 49! projecting from the sleeve 2!6.

The support includes frame members 492 and 493 which are identical and are connected by aligned journal members 494 and 495. Lugs 496 on the frame members 492 and 493 facilitate attaching the brackets 299 and 499 bybolts 491.

The end of frame member 492 abuts against the lug 49! to align a threaded hole therein with an aperture of said lug for a stud 498.

The outermost ends of the members 492 and 493 comprise a transverse channel 499. The outer and inner walls of said members at opposite sides of the channel 499 contain aligned bearings 4M and 4!! respectively. The izmer wall extends upwardly and has seated thereon the ends of the journal member 495.

The frame members 492 and 493 have a second pair of transversely aligned channels 4!3. In channels 4!3 are bosses 4!4 having a smooth top end M5 and a central aperture 4!6 which extends vertically through the boss. A Z shaped bracket 4!! is held upon the top face of each member 492 and 493 by a stud M8. The horizontally disposed section 4!!! of the bracket 4!1 has an aperture 429 the axis of which coincides with that of aperture 4!6. To the top of a wall 42! comprising a side of a channel 422, bearing member 494 is fastened by cap screws 423. A vertical Wall 424 at the inner end of each of members 492 and 493 form the other side of the channel 422. Bearings 425 and 426 are formed in Walls 42! and 424 and have aligned axes.

A shaft 421 is rotatively disposed within the bearings 4!!) and 4! and has keyed thereto Within the channel 499 a gear 428. The inner end of the shaft 421 has fastened thereto a collar 429 having an angular lug 439. A shaft 43! is disposed in bearings 425 and 426 and has keyed thereto a pinion 432 riding in the channel between the walls 42! and 424. Shafts 421 and 43! are in alignment. collar 433 having a lug 434. The lugs 439 and 434 are opposed. Supported by the lugs 439 and 434 is a paring blade 435 which has the shape of the longitudinal periphery of one side of a pear.

The journals 494 and 495 house a shaft 439. The inner end of the shaft 436 has fixedly attached thereto a segmental gear 431 which engages the gears 432. The opposite end of the shaft 436 has keyed thereto a segmental gear 438 which meshes with the pinions 428. An arm 449 extends radially from a hub 44! of the gear 438 and is operatively engaged by an adjustable link 442, there being a slot 443 in arm 449 and a pin 444 extending through said slot into an end of link 442.

The opposite end of the link 442 has a socket 445 for receiving a ball 446 mounted upon a post 441 whereby a ball and socket connection between the link 442 and the end of lever 286 is completed.

The intermittent oscillating movement of vertical shaft 288, heretofore described, is transmitted through the link 442 to the segmental gear 438 and thus to shaft 436 and segmental gear 431.

The shafts 421 and 43! are actuated independently 'so that equal torque is applied to both ends of blades 435. The angle of oscillation imparted to the segmental gears is such that a blade 435 is rotated more than one hundred eighty degrees from one position slightly above the horizontal to another position slightly above the horizontal in a counterclockwise direction.

While the blades 435 are in a position to make a cutting movement, fruit cups containing half pears which have arrived at the station W are elevated by the posts 38! in the manner heretofore described, thus to bring the flat faces of the halved fruit upward against pear peeling pads 448 where the fruit is maintained while the peeling operation of the blades is performed. The blades 435 pass through the fruit just under the The end of shaft 43! carries a epidermis, the fruit and detached epidermis remaining in the cups.

The vertical aperture H6 in the boss 4M telescopingly receives a hollow stem @559 having an enlarged head 59 at its bottom. The opening within the stem M9 is cylindrical and is coextensive with the stem and the head 656. It is of decreased diameter above a shoulder 452 therein. After the stem are has been inserted into the aperture 555 from beneath, a collar $53 and a nut 456 are respectively shrunk and screwed upon the upper and threaded end of said stem. The stem M9 is constantly urged downwardly by a compression spring Q55 exerting a force between the horizontal arm M9 of the bracket All and the nut 351, the limit of downward movement being governed by collar 353. The tension of the spring 455 may be regulated by moving'the nut 45d relatively to the collar 553.

Adjacent the opening 45! within the head 250 is a recess 455 enclosed by opposed walls 457. The walls 45'! contain aligned apertures 458 forming bearings for a pin 359 which supports intermediate the walls 357 a lug 4 6i integral with the pad 548. Protruding from the head 250 is a tongue it! having a lug e52 projecting downwardly therefrom.

Between the lug 362 and a lug 463 on plate 448 is a compression spring 464. Extending upwardly through the opening lfil is a stem 665 having at its lower end a knock-out pad 585 of dimensions allowing it to be seated within the recess 46? in the fruit pad 5%. When no contrary pressure is exerted upwardly upon the knock-out pad 356, the stem M55 is maintained in the downward position illustrated in Figure 10 by a compression spring 163 seated against the shoulder 452 and pressing against a pin its extending through the stem M55. The downward displacement of the stem 465 and the pad his is limited by a transverse pin dlil contacting the top of the bracket fill.

A bar fill is slidably seated within the channel M3 of the two frame members 482 and 403. A transverse slot M2 is disposed in the bar All about midway of its two ends. The top face of the bar 4'! l carries two similar lock members 413 having horizontally disposed jaws ift and flanges H5 in parallelism with said jaws and serving as a means for anchoring said members with set screws did. A plate all held in place by a stud 41'8 extends over the channel M3 in the frame member M3. An aperture N9 in frame member M33 seats a pin 430 threaded upon its forward end to receive nuts 48!. The other end of the pin contains an aperture 382. A screw 483 holding beneath its head one end of a contraction spring M34 is mounted on the under side of bar All and the other end of said spring is hooked within the aperture $82.

The spring 58d provides a constant pull upon the bar ill thus tending to keep the bar in a position limited by the plate 41! engaging the base,

N5 of the foremost lock 273. When the bar 4'" is in its most forward position, the jaws did of the locks engage a groove 385 within the collars 353 and thus prevent any upward movement of the fruit pads 443.

The shaft 636 carries a radial peg lt la. Normally the peg 385a exerts a pressure upon one wall of the notch W2 and prevents a movement of the bar ill, hence the jaws H4 may not engage the grooves 435. The clockwise rotation of the shaft 436 (Figure 11) frees the pin 434m from the notch to permit the spring 484 to urge stroke through the fruit.

the jaws 414 into engagement with the grooves 485. Release of the bar 47! by the pin 48 3a occurs while the paring knife is making its upward The jaws t thus positively hold the fruit pads M58 against upward movement during upward movement of the paring knife.

Subsequently, the peeled fruit is lowered as the fruit cup is dropped by movement of the cam 2%. As the fruit cup drops, the knock-out pad hi6 presses the fruit away from the face of the pad M8. The knock-out pad 4% breaks any vacuum created between the flat face of the fruit and the fruit pad that would cause the fruit to adhere to such fruit pad. The spring 468 actuating the knock-out pad is of a strength sufficient to push the fruit from the fruit pad, but is not stiff enough to injure the fruit when such fruit forces the pad into the seat 661 incident to the rise in the fruit cups.

Means for severing the seed-carrying portion of the half fruit After fruit has been pared at station W and the fruit cups have been lowered, the main turret is advanced ninety degrees to station X.

In the illustration of the invention of the method and apparatus as applied to the treatment of half fruit, I have shown the same as applied to the treatment of pears and therefore the means for removing the seed-containing portion is illustrated as a coring mechanism.

A coring device is mounted upon a shaft 6H] which oscillates within end bearings till and 652 secured respectively to the uprights H and 12 by bolts M3. The shaft iilli has a clutch member Gi t which is compound in nature and symmetricalon either side of a central integral sleeve hi5. The sleeve bid is fastened to the shaft m by a set screw (HE.

the collar M5. The sleeves 6E3 are split as indicated at Gig (Figure 15) and are separated from the collar 655 by a narrow slit 628. The split sleeves 6H8 have a uniform increase in outside diameter from the outer edge 62f inwardly tively mounted upon the shaft iiiii intermediate 5 the gear 62% and the adjacent split sleeve M8. An internal clutch member 628 projects from the bearing member 827 and telescopes into the sleeve Gift. The multiple bearing block 62'? has therein a bearing 629 for shaft 60d.

tate freely thereabout. Block 627 has a second bearing 536 the axis of which is normal to the axis of the bearing 6229. Bearing 63E supports for rotation a hollow spindle 53L of spindle 63l has thereon a circular shoulder 632 with teeth 633 out therein.

Engagement is had between teeth E533 and an arcuate train of teeth 63% in the beveled gear 624.

The extreme inner end of the spindle 63E has a groove 635 which seats the ends of two curved fruit-contacting, holding and turning members 636 and 63?. The members 636 and 6377 are substantially symmetrical and have top faces that The bearing block is not secured to the shaft Bit but may ro The inner end 4 Short ligatures 6!? connect split sleeves M8 to 0 are flush and of the shape of the flat face of a 5 half fruit. The opposed inner edges of the members 636 and 631' are spaced apart and extend from the inward end of the spindle 631 in parallelism until a restricted section 638 is reached. Beyond the restricted section 638, the space between the two members 666 and 631 is first increased and then decreased to form an enlarged section 639. The space between the members 636 and 631 thereafter is uniform (Figure 20).

The members 636 and 631 thus comprise auxiliary fruit holding means which is adapted to contact the cut face of the half fruit on opposite sides of the seed-containing section, providing therebetween an opening registering with the seed-containing section through and in which the severing mechanism is operable.

The inner ends of the members 636 and 631' are connected by a block 646 having therein a bearing 641 on an axis common to the spindle 631. The bearing 641 is intersected by a second bearing 642 at ninety degrees thereto. A fiat U-shaped plate 643 having a closed side 6 1 1, opposed legs 645 extending outward therefrom, and extensions 6413 upon the sides 645, is supported by stud shafts 641 anchored within the bearings 642.

Springs 648 at one end are anchored to a pin 649 at the ends of the shafts 641 about which they extend, and at their other ends engage one face of side members 665 to rotate the U-shaped plate 643 about the shafts 641 to maintain the extensions 646 flush with the members 636 and 631. The members 636 and 631 have a part of their top faces removed to form a seat 656 in which the extensions 646 may lie so that the faces of members 636 and 631 and extensions 646 are normally in a single flat plane.

The spindle 631 contains a bearing 651 coextensive with the spindle. Bearing 651 contains a shank 652 of a coring blade 653. The outer end of the shank 652 is keyed to a beveled gear 654. The face of the gear 624 contiguous to the gear 654 contains a second train of teeth 655 which mesh with those upon the gear 654.

Any suitable type of coring means may be provided to accomplish the objects herein attained and which will function in the manner equivalent to the preferred form of coring means herein illustrated, however, I prefer to provide as a coring means an arcuately shaped cutter adapted to turn about an axis which is substantially the same axis about which the half fruit turns.

The blade 653 has a semi-circular cross section transversely of and throughout its length. It will be noted that the coring means is provided with an intermediate portion of arcuate formation which in cross section is substantially onehalf the general cross-sectional area of the core portion of the fruit to be cored and that regarding Figure 15, the lower portion of the coring means is wider than the upper portion of the cor ing means. The coring means is shaped in this manner to attain predetermined effects. The outermost end 656 of the blade 653 is secured to the shank 652. The blade 653 operates on an axis centered in the shank 652 and in the bearing 641, such axis lying intermediate the members 636 and 631 in a plane approximately in alinement with the top faces of said members. The inner end of the blade 653 terminates in a trunnion 651' which extends into the bearing 641 for rotation therein. A washer 653 held upon the ends of the trunnion 651 by a bolt 656 cooperates with the pinion 654 to prevent axial displacement of the shank 652 and the blade 653.

Between uprights 11 and 12 there is atransverse bar 666 which supports two blocks 661 secured by stud bolts 662. The under side of the blocks 661 contains a notch 663. The walls 664 at the sides of the notches 663 support a pin 665 about which a sprag 666 is pivoted. The sprag 666 has an arcuate edge 661 concentric of the pin 665 and of a radius which will not contact the material of the block at the base of the channel 663. The arcuate section terminates in a tangential face 668 which abuts the material of block 661 to prevent an outward pendulant movement of the sprag 666. The sprag 666, therefore, is adapted to swing freely inwardly of the machine but is arrested in its outward movement. The sprags 666 are in alignment with the coring instrumentalities and particularly U-shaped member 644.

A cross piece 669 is secured to uprights 11 and 12 as a base for offset lugs 616 that are in alignment with the bearing blocks 621 of the coring mechanism. The lugs 616 at the offset sections 611 present a top face 612 and an outer face 613. A bolt 614 extends through the outer face 613 and under the head 616 of the bolt a number of washers 616 may be placed to space the head 615 r from the face 613.

The under face of the bearing block 621 on either side of the bearing 629 has shoulders 611 and 618 that coact respectively with the head 615 of the bolt 614 and the top face 612 of the bracket 616 to limit the oscillative rotation of the block 621.

The coring mechanism is actuated by an oscillatory movement of shaft 616. The left end of the shaft 616 beyond the bearing 612 has keyed thereto a bevel gear 662. The gear 632 is meshed with a second gear 683 at the end of a horizontal shaft 684 within bearings 685. The shaft 664 carries a spur gear 686 which engages a vertically reciprocating rack 669 guided by a plate 681 attached to a cross member 663 between uprights 12 and 13.

A cam follower 666 containing a vertical slot 691 for the reception of cam shaft 52 is disposed at the right side of the cam 136 (Figure 3). The right side of said cam 136 contains an eccentric groove 692 providing a track for a roller bearing 693 supported upon a pin 664 projecting from the left side of the cam follower 696. The cam 136 is rotated by the shaft 52, and the groove 692 by its engagement with the roller bearing 693 guides the cam follower 696 in a vertically reciprocal manner. A bracket 695 connects the cam follower 696 and the rack 669 to impart reciprocal motion to the latter. An oscillating motion of shaft 616 is produced through the rack 686, the gear 686, and the pinions 683 and 682.

As the rack 689 is moved downwardly, the shaft 616 is rotated in a clockwise direction when viewed from its left end. The clockwise movement of the shaft 616 and the gear 624 rotates the coring mechanism in a like direction and brings the flat face of the members 636, 631 and 646 to bear upon the exposed face of the fruit within the fruit cups at station X. The coring blade 653 is in the position illustrated in Figure 17 with its main body retracted within the space between the members 636 and 631 and with its cutting edges 686 and 681 against the fruit. When the coring apparatus is at the position described, the gear train 634 is in engagement with the teeth 633 of the section 632 at its most advanced end. The shoulder 618 at this time is against the face 612 of bracket 616 to prevent further rotation of the block 621 about shaft 616. 

